INDIAN SPRINGS (KTNV) — The Nevada Department of Corrections on Tuesday confirmed its ongoing investigation into at least four inmate homicides over the past month.
This comes in response to multiple inquiries from Channel 13 journalists after hearing from concerned family members of those behind bars in Indian Springs.
VIDEO: Alyssa Bethencourt reports the latest on inmate deaths at Indian Springs facilities
According to NDOC, three High Desert State Prison inmates and one Southern Desert Correctional Center inmate have been killed since July 16. They were identified as follows:
- Jacob Herman, 35, who died on July 16, 2025
- Jordan Canteberry, 34, who died on July 26, 2025
- Dmarea Wallace, 18, who died on August 6, 2025
- Ryan Warren-Hunt, 35, a Southern Desert inmate who died on August 11, 2025
Channel 13 is questioning the department about an additional inmate's death. 32-year-old Ronnie Owens, a High Desert State Prison inmate, died on August 8. His cause of death is still pending, according to the Clark County coroner, but a source who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation told us Owens was stabbed. On Tuesday night, a spokesperson with the NDOC told us that while the coroner has not issued the final determination, his death is a suspected overdose.
"The deaths were in different housing units and appear unrelated," an NDOC spokesperson stated in a news release. "NDOC officials suspect drug debt is an exacerbating factor."
In response to this series of killings, the NDOC is increasing surveillance and shifting its staff operations to reduce the number of inmates outside their cells at one time, the spokesperson wrote. NDOC is also reviewing its standard procedures around classifying and housing inmates.
According to NDOC's director, James Dzurenda, the department is also consulting with outside experts to find ways "to curtail the influx of contraband and illegal substances into the institutions" and forming committees of experts to address drugs and violence.
"We can't rely on our traditional operation plans alone," Dzurenda stated in the prepared release. "We have to do something that's unique. We need to get creative in bringing in different perspectives and attack this problem from all angles. This is our top priority."
Channel 13's Alyssa Bethencourt has heard from dozens of families of inmates at High Desert State Prison who are sounding the alarm about safety, security and conditions within the facility. Earlier this month, Governor Joe Lombardo addressed some of those concerns in a sit down interview with Channel 13.
“Unfortunately, there has been a rash of violent acts within the prison system across the board, not just one particular facility and it’s the job of the administrators and the leadership within that environment to address those. If it continues, we’ll continue to evaluate it additionally," Lombardo said.
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